The epic history of Indian Army dates back to more than ten thousand chequered years. The two epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata constitute the fundamental framework around which the edifice of Indian Army is built. The massive epic war Mahabharata, fought at Kurukshetra in north-central India, has left indelible imprints on the Indian psyche. Fought relentlessly for eighteen days in quest of peace, the force level described in the Epic states 18 Akshaunis, seven with the Pandavas and eleven with the Kauravas, amounting to nearly 400,000 assorted troops fighting on chariots, horses, elephants and foot soldiers.